The first electoral roll for South
Canturbury appeared in the Provincial Gazette of 1857. Before that any elector who chose
to register appeared on the Christchurch Country Roll. The electoral boundry for what was
originally known as the 'Timary Electoral District' extended from the southernmost branch
of the Ashburton River to the Waitangi (Waitaki) River. The earlist northern boundary of
what was originally known as the Southern Pastoral District was the Rakaia River.

Several electors who did not live in
the district were entitled to vote because they held property there.